Self-lubricating axle-spindle.



No. 7|0,944. Patented Oct. I4, |902.

J. Y. BROWN.

SELF LUBRICATING AXLE SPINDLE.

(Application filed NOV. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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WTNESSES IN VEN TOR. w, f6. (www, B

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Y. BROVN, OF LEAVENVVORTH, KANSAS.

SELF-LUBRICATING AXLE-SPINDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 710,944, dated October14, 1902.

Application filed November 21, 1901. Serial No. 83,148. (No model.)

To al?, rif/"mnt it 77mg/ concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES Y. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Leavenworth,in the county of Leavenworth and State ofKansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSelf-Lubricating Axle- Spindles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to self-feeding devices for the lubrication ofaxles, and particularly to self-lubricating axle-spindles for vehicles.

The object of my invention is the construction of a device which maywith comparatively little diiculty and expense be applied to ordinaryvehicle-axle spindles to obviate the necessity for frequent removals ofthe wheels and the consequent delay in oiling in the usual manner.

In a general Way my invention consists in a suitable chamber within theaxle-spindle to be used either with or without a removable reservoir orcup and means for automatically controlling the emission or supply ofoil from said chamber or reservoir to the bearing-surfaces.

Hy invention further consists in means for equipping axles of ordinaryconstruction with my improved self-feeding device, and my inventionfurther consists in the various details of construction and incombinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and inwhic`n- Figure lis a longitudinal vertical central section ofanaxle-spindle embodying my complete invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of the same substantially on the line a; of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal central section of the same, the oil-reservoir having beenremoved. Fig. 4; is a top plan view of the same, interior parts beingshown by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of theremovable reservoir or cup. Fig. 6 is a top plan of the same. Fig. 7 isa vertical section of the same substantially on the line @j y of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 2 refers to thespindle of a vehicle axle, which may have been turned down to a smalleraverage diameter to permit of the employment therewith of a thimble orsleeve-spindle 3 of usual or standard size or gage, snugly incasing thesame. Invapplying my device to ordinary vehicle-axles the originalspindle must be solid; not tubular. The butting ring or collar and thethreaded plug at the end thereof having been removed the verticalrectangular slot 4 is cut to fork said spindle 2, leaving the twosimilar and opposite longitudinal projections 5 andl The sleeve-spindle3 is provided with longitudinal cavities at the extremity thereof of thesame size and shape as the projections 5 and 6 and located to receivesaid projections, which fit snugly therein. Said sleeve-spindle may befastened in any suitable manner. A central wall? of said sleevespindleis thus provided between said cavities, within which is provided thevertical rectangular longitudinally-extending slot or chamber 8, open atthe top and extending nearly but not quite through said spindle. I haveshown this slot or chamber 8 provided with two bottom apertures 9 and10, one at each end thereof, opening tothe bushing of the hub. It maybe, however, that one aperture will be suiicient for ordinary uses, inwhich case this aperture Will be located at the end of said slot orchamber nearest the butting-ring, that the swing and gather of the axlewill tend to distribute the lubricating iiuid over the whole surface ofthe axlebox. The sleeve-spindle is further provided with the usualbutting ring or collar 1l and the threaded projection l2 for theaxle-nut.

The reservoir or oil-cup 13 is preferably made of tin orlight sheetmetal and is shaped to it the chamber 8 of the sleeve-spindle. Saidreservoir is thus adapted to be removably inserted within said chamberand may or may not be provided with a suitable lid or cover, none beingshown. This reservoir is further provided With one or more bottomapertures, (two being shown,) each contiguous to the correspondingaperture of the chamber 8. Immediately above each aperture in saidreservoir is a small cap or lid let, preferably of metal and ofsufficient height to be retained in somewhat unstable equilibrium. Thiscap 14 is preferably vrectangu- IOO lar in configuration, so that theengagement of its sides with the side walls ot the reservoir 13 willprevent rotation of said cap. A screw l5, threaded into said cap,extends through the aperture in said reservoir and terminates in a headlarger than said aperture. The bottom wall of the chamber 8 in thesleeve-spindle 3 is thick enough to provide small chambers 16 and 17,wherein are contained the screw-heads to prevent the latter from comingin contact with the bushing ot' the hub. The cap 14 is designed to keepthe aperture normally closed by its own weight when the vehicle is notin motion, but being in somewhat unstable equilibrium, the

diameterof the aperture being slightly in excess of the diameter of thescrew and a slight freedom of vertical movement being permitted by theproper adjustment of the screw, it is evident that the jar of thespindle when the vehicle is in motion will slightly displace said capand permit the emission underforce of gravity of a small butcomparatively steady flow ofthe lubricating fluid to the axlebox, theamount of fluid delivered being eas! ily regulated in advance by theadjustment of the screw and cap. Vhen the vehicle is stopped, the Weightof the cap or lid will again close the aperture and out off the supplyof fluid.

It is evident that the slot or chamber 8 may, if desired, be cut in theordinary spindle, and one object in providing a sleeve-spindle is togive the axle additional strength. Another object is to provide a devicewhich may be readily applied to an ordinary aXle, it being much easierto fork the end of the axle than to cutthe rectangular chamber therein,and while the use of a removable reservoir or cup for the oil has manyadvantages it is nevertheless not an essential element of myinvention,as it is obvious that the oil may be poured directly into the chamber 8and the same means utilized for controlling the supply to the bearing.

Many modifications of the minor details of my improved self-lubricatingaxle-spindles will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilledin the art to which it appertains, and I therefore do not desire tolimit myinvention to the specific construction herein shown anddescribed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. In a self-lubricating axle-spindle, the combinationwith an inner forked spindle of a sleeve-spindle having longitudinalcavities to receive and incase the members of said forked spindle andhaving a chamber within the wall between said cavities, there being atleast one lower aperture to said chamber, and means for automaticallycontrolling the liow of lubricating fluid through said aperture.

2. In a self-lubricating axle-spindle, the combination with a spindle ofa non-revolving sleeve-spindle incasing the same, said sleeve-spindlehavinga chamber therein provided with at least one lower aperture, aremovable reservoir within said chamber having at least onecorresponding aperture, and means for automatically controlling the liowof lubricating fluid through said aperture to the bearing-surfaces.

3. In a self-lubricating axle-spindle, the combination with an innerforked spindle of a sleeve-spindle having longitudinal cavities toreceive and incase the members of said forked spindle and having achamber within the wall between said cavities, there being at least onelower aperture to said chamber, a removable reservoir within saidchamber having at least one corresponding aperture, and means forautomatically controlling the ow of lubricating iiuid through saidaperture to the bearing-surfaces.

4. In a self-lubricating axle-spindle, the combination with a spindle ofa non-revolving sleeve-spindle incasin g the same, said sleeve-spindlehaving a chamber therein provided with at least one lower aperture, acap over said aperture, and means for retaining said cap in somewhatunstable equilibrium.

5. In a sell:` -lubricating axle-spindle, the combination with an innerforked spindle of a sleeve-spindle having longitudinal cavities toreceive and incase the members of said forked spindle and having achamber within the wall between said cavities in said sleevespindle,there being at least one lower aperture to said chamber, a cap over saidAaperture, and means for retaining said cap in somewhat unstableequilibrium.

6. In a self-lubricating axle-spindle, the combination of a spindlehaving a chamber therein extending vertically nearly but not quitethrough said spindle and provided with at least one lower aperture, aremovable reservoir within said chamber having at least onecorresponding aperture, a cap over the aperture in said reservoir, andmeans for retaining said cap in somewhat unstable equilibrium.

7. In a self -lubricating axle-spindle, the combination with a spindleof a non-revolving sleeve-spindle ineasing the same, said sleeve-spindlehaving a chamber therein provided with at least one lower aperture, aremovable reservoir within said chamber provided with at least onecorresponding aperture, a cap over the aperture in said reservoir, andmeans for retaining said cap iu somewhat unstable equilibrium.

8. In a self -lubricating axle-spindle, the combination of a spindle, achamber therein having at least one lower aperture, a removablereservoir within said chamber having at least one correspondingaperture, a cap over the aperture to 'said reservoir of suicient heightto be retained by gravity in somewhat unstable equilibrium, a screwthreaded into the bottom of said cap the shank of which is less indiameter than the diameter of said ap- IOO IIO

erture and which terminates in a head of greater diameter than that ofsaid aperture.

i). ln a self-lubricating axle-spindle, the combination With a spindleof a sleeve-spindle incasing the same having a chamber in saidsleeve-spindle provided with at least one lower aperture, a removablereservoir Within said chamber having at least one correspondingaperture, a cap over the aperture in said reservoir, which cap is ofsufficient height to be retained by gravity in somewhat unstableequilibrium, a screw threaded into the bottom of said cap the shank ofwhich is less in diameter than the diameter of said aperture and whichterminates in a head of greater diameter than that of the aperture insaid reservoir.

l0. In a self-lubricating axle-spindle, the combination with an innerforked spindle of 1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES Y. BROWN.

Vitnesses:

F. M. MCHALE, JOHN Q. A. Non'roN.

